Friday In My Studio...

7am: Head into the studio with a coffee and read the card on my notice board:

" This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tommorow comes, this day will be gone forever; in it's place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good."

8:00am: Fresh flowers from the garden, a candle, a reminder to 'relax' and take the day in, make sure I'm on schedule to finish this week's projects:

8:30am: Race around (like thousands of other mothers) doing school drop off. Do school drop off. Pick up the mail at the Ferny Creek General Store (yeah - I love mail!).

9am: Finishing off the weeks projects, loving soft and subtle prints full of roses:

10am: Sewing sewing sewing! Must finish off the projects that are overdue!!!!

(somewhere in here there's time for a sandwich)

1:30pm: Arguement with Jan (Janome) after numerous broken needles, threatening that Betty (Bernina) will be here soon (well, as soon as I can pay off that new washing machine and fund Betty).

2pm: Okay, I'm beaten! Jan has done a wobbly and refuses to help me complete my projects. We'll talk later Jan. Meanwhile I'm off to the framing shop to pick up my newly framed lithographs from Norway:

2:30pm: Stop in at Foothills Fabric and Threads to gather my supplies ready for next week's projects:

3:30pm: School pick up and haircuts.

5:30pm: No time to cook, haven't even looked at answering those emails yet. How does toasted cheese sandwiches sound? Hang on, I've got a photoshoot to do before the sun goes down (yes, I know it's my backyard but I can't reveal the projects I've been working on just yet):

6:30pm: Toasted cheese sandwiches. Get through some emails (why can't I ever get under 700 unanswered emails??????)

7:30pm: Hubby's home. Time to throw on a load or two (or ten) of washing. Read school newsletter. Get through a few more emails. Tidy up studio.

8:30pm: Tuck in the littlest Beasley under her 'To Georgia, Love Mummy' quilt. Thank goodness it's Friday and there's a sleep in tommorow! Another load of washing, dishes (why don't I have a dishwasher?), folding clothes, etc.

11pm: Haven't done blog entry! So here I am....

Yes, a day well used...

Leanne Beasley xxx

Comments

[Hilary]

I love that fabric by Lecien. Where did you find that and can I get it in the US? I've been trying to find your pattern for your bag that you taught in Norway and am having no luck here in the States. Any suggestions?
thanks, Hilary in Texas

[Carole Meier]

Yea, why don't you have a dishwasher? Sounds like my life at the moment but I'm not designing anything! lol Enjoy your weekend!

[petra proost]

Hi,

Just dropping by to tell you that I love your blog. The pictures are so cute!

Petra (from The Netherlands)

[Marit]

Hello from Norway! I was surprised when I saw the lithograph from Norway,first I thought,"isn't this an Australien blog"? Then I saw that you had been visiting Norway.:-)Your quilts are so beautiful.

[Corinna]

Thank you so very much for posting the quote.

Am I right that it's for the 2nd time?

I remembered loving it the first time I read it and have been going back through you posts to look for it. Phew now I can spend that time searching getting the housework done - hmmm well checking out more blogs!

Funny it doesn't seem to matter how busy my day is I manage to squeeze in a peek at a few fav blogs - the dusting & housework always waits patiently for me.

[Mary Wood]

You poor thing you must be run off your feet sit down put your feet up and relax with your favourite mag. you deserve it
Hugs Mary.

[Connie W]

I love the quote from the card on your notice board so much that I hope you don't mind that I posted it on my blog today. I also made a copy of it in large type on pink paper to hang in my sewing room where I can see it daily. It's so inspirational...thank you immensely for sharing it, I love it. Connie W

[Kris]

I was going to say, "Glad others have my kind of day too!", but I decided not to because I hate those kinds of days. Then I got all philosophical and decided that you were not unhappy with your day (apart from Jan, "Not happy Jan!").

I really think you should rush right out and get a dishwasher! I didn't get one until there were 10 of us dirtying dishes and it is wonderful. And despite the fact that there are lots of us I think it would make a difference to anybody. I can put "just about everything" into mine and it uses "hardly any water". I think happiness is all about attitude! Thank you for sharing your positive attitude with us!!!

PS Love the fabric!(Of course!)

[Jackie]

I just found your blog and love it!! I love your patterns and perusing your projects. They are gorgeous.

[Jocelyn]

Wow- what a day - I feel exhausted reading it!!! Not that I haven't experienced days like that myself, and come to think of it, Friday was allot like that here as well, especially as Kid's Club has begun and runs from 5pm to 7pm, and next week oldest child will be participating in the club for older children (oops teenagers) that goes from 7pm to 9pm.

I had planned to cook roast chicken on Friday, thinking that it was relatively simple (grab chook ready to roast, shove nice fat lemon up its bum accompanied by some garlic and a bit of root ginger, shove in electric frypan with vegetables abit of oil and about a cup of water, cover with lid and cook for 1.5 hours). Yep it was a good idea but didn't happen as we ended up not getting home until just before 9pm so like you it was toasted sandwiches).

I can't say that I am really that enamoured of dishwashers and don't think they are really the labour saving device that they claim. Firstly ours takes 2.5 hours to go through its cycle, doesn't necessarily clean everything properly, and uses much more water than I would to wash the same load, and I wouldn't take that long. Also not everything can go in the dishwasher. Even though the members of the family that use such items promise to clean them and put them away, this seldom seems to happen and they accumulate until muggins takes care of it. There are only so many times that you can stand over them and make sure it is done. The oldest member of the family tends to be the worst too.

Boy I've just looked back on what I have typed - what a rant!!! But I have to say again dishwashers aren't all they are cracked up to be.

Onto the glimpses of your project for the magazine. I will wait not so patiently for it's publication. Love the material - those big blousy roses. Think the blue background is my fave. And as usual the small peek into your studio is inspiring. Note to self must clean off and organise my table....again!!!

I hope that after such a frantic and frizzled Friday your weekend has proved to be much more leisurely with more "just for Leanne" time.

All the best

Jocelyn
beautiful, bountiful West Gippsland

PS: What any pears or peaches? In about four weeks we are going to have them coming out our ears, with two large and laden trees of both.

[Ethne]

How would you like a couple of BIG HUGS - even those of us without children have days like this - you just run around chasing your 'tail', but a least it looks like you have acheived some stitching and we eagerly await the 'cyrptic' photo treats - I just wish I had better access to Hompspun mags etc to see the projects in full
Ethne

[YokkoBears]

Hi Leanne,

the saying you mention in the beginning of this log I've hanging on my wall here in my studio in the Netherlands.

Your day sounds busy,
just as my days.
But I always think;
I love it,
and I am so happy that it is possible for me to be this busy.

I just started my second diary quilt, you call it 365 quilt.
After I started my first diary quilt about 7 years ago, I promised myself, if possible, that I wanted to make a second diary quilt starting on a special day again.
And that was last week.
So nice to work on this kind of quilt again.

The weather here is lovely,
sunny but cold,
and in my studio a very sweet new Bear is born.

[Angelika]

I think You should treat Jan well an pick up a dishwasher in stead of a Betty ;-))

[Stina]

Thankyou!!!

I need to organize myself...think I will use your fantastic note to inspire myself and really take care of the day!! You have teased us with a lot of goodies and love to see it finished...really hope that Jan is in a better mood today!!!

Take care... a new day has begun!

[Diana]

...looks like the day we have all over the world...we are busy women...and yes everyday is special but..not for dishes or clothes to wash..thanks for all photos!!!have a good weekend!!do you think i can't buy only the pattern of your beautiful butterflies quilt??the bom is too expensive to me..ok i will write to honeysucklecottage..

[Diana]

...looks like the day we have all over the world...we are busy women...and yes everyday is special but..not for dishes or clothes to wash..thanks for all photos!!!have a good weekend!!do you think i can't buy only the pattern of your beautiful butterflies quilt??the bom is too expensive to me..ok i will write to honeysucklecottage..

[May Kristin]

Puh, what a busy day! And you even got time for some photoshoot!
Hope you will manage to finish off your projects in time. Can't wait to see them! I'm sure they will be great, like always!
Love your lithograph from Norway! Wished I could show you my part of Norway,Sørlandet (Southern Norway), where the artist made the litograph from!
Have a nice week-end, and give your self some time to relax!
Take care!

[nicky]

Wow you sure are busy! Good luck finishing all those projects. I love that quote- it is very inspirational,
Nicky

[blossom]

yup my days are often like that too!!!

I love the saying you have..I have it in my kitchen(where MY day starts) but I only have the first half...will print up all of yours to use and inspire me!!!

thanks

[Leanne]

A very hectic day - time goes by so fast I remember an old 80 year old man saying to me once "When you get to 80 you just have to blink and that is a day gone by" I believe him now.

[Carol]

Such a busy day and the day goes so fast. You have fitted so much into one day! Have a great weekend- Carolx

[Darlene Carroll]

LOL!!! well sweetie... that just about sounds like a day for me also. Except for the frustrations of a stubborn sewing machine.... it's wonderful to be busy & see what we women actually accomplish (or not...hehe) in our day.

Enjoy the wonderful sleep in & have a totally inspiring & creative weekend!!!

[JudyG]

Thanks Leanne for sharing your day. This must be quick as I am now inspired to make the most of my day (instead of the despair I had at all I have to do today) before reading this with my morning cuppa.

[KicsiKató]

Hi Leanne!

You had a really busy day:) And I the note from your notice boards. Is it yours? Or come from a writer? May I use it in my life (aaaaand perhaps in my blog)? I think it should be help so more people to WORK and CREATE instead of being busy (sometime for me, too:))

Have a great weekend! Kata

[Thimbleanna]

A very well used day, I'd say! The bag at 2:00 p.m. looks so pretty, I'm VERY anxious to see the project at 2:30 p.m. and the picture at 5:30 p.m. is awesome! Have a good weekend!